I'm sitting on a panel and listening to people's stories of overcrowding and homelessness in London.

Why did you join?

Until I was 17, there were six of us in a two bedroom flat. Mum, Dad and little sister in one room; me, my brother and sister in the other.

Do you rap about overcrowding?

Not really, but in One Wish I say: "Yea, I can say that my life's been hard/ Six of us lived in ah two bedroom yard."

What were the main problems?

If one of us got sick we all did. I had to do my homework on the floor. It was always really loud, but that's what I'm used to. And I like living on the estate in Hackney. It was like an extended family. You knew everyone on your floor.

Set a target for Tony Blair.

Concentrate on council estates and poverty. I say in one of my songs: "How can Tony Blair spend so much money on war when there's not got enough to feed the poor?"

Is knife culture out of control?

When I was at school it was very rare to carry a knife, now it's like 90%. Young people need to come off the streets. They're hanging around, bored. That's when they do something stupid.

What can be done?

I'd like to set up music workshops all over for young people.

What's it like to be a pop star?

I'm not. I'm a rapper/MC. But my first album, Diamond in the Dirt, has had good reviews and I do get recognised and people sing along to my songs at gigs. It's crazy.

Who are your role models?

My Mum and Dad. They're both nurses.

Nominate a president for Britain.

Muhammad Ali.

· Shelter's national housing investigation starts in London tomorrow, and will move on to the south-west, Edinburgh and the north-west. Details at www.shelter.org.uk